Tufting machine and method



Fl I."

March 31,1959

J. K. M CUTCHEN TUFTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTOR. Joszpu K. Mc, Curcuau .HTTQRNEY J. K. MCCUTCHEN 2,879,728

March 31, 1959 TUFTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORL- JOSEPH K. McCuTcHE-N March 31, 1959 J. K. MOCUTCHEN TUFTING MACHINE AND METHOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Filed Jan. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. JOSEPH K. McCUTcHEN vqTTORNEY J. K. MCCUTCHEN TUFTING MACHINE AND METHOD March 31, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. JOSEPH K. Mc CUTCHLN WTTORNEY March 31, 1959 J. K. MCCUTCHEN 2,879,728

' TUFTING'MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 26, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH K. Mc CUTCHEN BY (5. a? 2M j March 31, 1959 J. K. MCCUTCHEN 2,879,728

TUFTING MACHINE AND METHOD v r 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 26, 1956 Fl a. 7.

INVENTOR. JOSEPH K.MGCUTCHEN BY P 9 W ATTOQNEY United States Patent 'TUFTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Joseph K. McCntchen, Ellijay, Ga.

Application January 26, 1956, Serial No. 561,558

14 Claims. (Cl. 112-79) The present invention relates to a tufting machine and method.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a tuftmg method, whereby severed or unsevered loops may be formed upon a fabric base, in such a manner as to produce various designs in the pile of the finished work, such as rugs or carpeting.

A further object is to provide a tufting machine and method, wherein desired areas or fields of the fabric base may be provided with severed or unsevered loops, to thereby produce the desired predetermined design or pattern in the finished work.

A further object is to provide in a tufting machine having generally conventional needle, looper and loop-severing mechanism, novel and simplified means for removing the loops from selected loopers, prior to severing, and allowing the loops upon other loopers of the machine to be severed in the usual manner.

A further object is to provide suitable control means for the elements which remove the loops from the loopers before they are severed, in certain instances, and allow the loops on the loopers to be severed when desired. Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the machine can produce severed or'unsevered loops with any or all of its multiple needles, the arrangement being such that certain needles which have previously sewed severed loops into the fabric base may be caused during the continued operation of the machine to produce unsevered loops, and vice versa.

Still another object is to provide a tufting machine which is relatively simplified in construction, sturdy and durable, and reliable and efficient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a multiple needle tufting machine in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the needle, looper, cutter and loop-removing mechanism shown in Figure 2, the looper being shown in position for entering the loops formed by the needle, and the cutter and loop-removing elements being in inactive positions,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the looper and cutter positioned relative to each other for severing the loops upon the looper, the 1oop-removing means still being in an inactive position,

Figure 5 is a further view similar to Figures 3 and 4 and showing the looper and cutter in severing position, but with the loop-removing means in a raised or active position with respect to the looper, for removing the loops therefrom before severing,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism as shown in Figure 3,

"ice

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on line 77 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 8--8 of Figure 1,

Figures 9 to 11 inclusive are diagrammatic side elevations of the looper, needle and cutter means, and the associated element for removing the loops in an unsevered condition from the looper at the desired times,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 12-12 of Figure 6,

Figure 13 is a plan view of a section of the tufted fabric produced by the machine, and,

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on line 14-14 of Figure 13.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates generally the main frame of the tufting machine, and this frame comprises end vertical sections or legs 21, having mounted thereon and suitably rigidly secured thereto, an intermediate horizontal longitudinal frame section 22, as shown in the drawings. An upper horizontal longitudinal frame section or head 23 is mounted upon the intermediate frame section 22, and includes end depending leg portions 24, integral therewith, and rigidly secured to the top of frame section 22 near the ends of the latter, Figure 1.

Journaled for rotation upon the head 23 and extending longitudinally through the head and beyond its opposite end walls is a main horizontal longitudinal drive shaft 25. This drive shaft has rotation imparted thereto at one end by suitable power operated means, not shown, and in-.

cluding gearing indicated generally by the numeral 26, Figure 1. Within the head 23, the main drive shaft 25 has mounted thereon in a conventional manneraplurality of longitudinally spaced eccentric earns 27, operatively connected with depending connecting rods 28, as shown. The lower ends of the connecting rods 28 are suitably pivoted at 28' to the upper ends of vertically reciprocating rods or shafts 29, which shafts operate within suitable vertical guide means 30, rigidly secured to the bottom of the frame head 23, as shown. Any preferred number of the reciprocating shafts 29, connecting rods 28, i

and associated elements may be employed, as found desirable, and this will depend mainly upon the length of the needle bar of the machine, as is well known.

The rods 29 have rigidly secured to their lower ends, below the guide means 30, a long horizontal longitudinal needle bar 31, adapted to reciprocate vertically with the rods 29, and extending for substantially the entire distance between the leg portions 24 of the frame head 23. The needle bar 31 has rigidly secured thereto in a conventional manner a plurality of closely longitudinally spaced depending vertical needles 32. Substantially any desired number of needles may be employed, and in the present embodiment of the invention, I prefer to use about 900 of the needles 32 upon the long needle bar 31.

A correspondingly long horizontal longitudinal presser bar 33 is arranged beneath the needle bar 31 in the usual manner, and extends for the entire length of the needle bar, Figure 1. The presser bar 33 is fixedly held in place by suitable supporting means 34, dependingly rigidly secured to the fixed guide means 30, Figures 1 and 2. The usual horizontal longitudinal throat plate 35 is rigidly- 33 and in close proximity to the bottom of the presser bar, as shown. The throat plate 35 and presser bar 33 are suitably notched in the usual manner to allow the downward movement or reciprocation of the needles 32 with the needle bar.

All of the construction thus far described is conveittional and well known, and hence a further detailed as asrsnas scription of the foregoing elements of the machine should not be necessary to those skilled in the art.

Conventional means is employed for feeding a suitable fabric web or base 36 transversely across the throat plate 35 and beneath the presser bar 33, in a step-bystep manner, and in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2. Such means may comprise power driven feed rolls 37 and a guide roll 38, arranged respectively adjacent the forward and rear sides of the intermediate horizontal frame section 22 and suitably mounted thereon, as shown. The tops of the rolls 37 and 38 are adjacent the top of the throat plate 35, so that the fabric base 36 may pass horizontally across the throat plate from the rear side of the machine to its forward side, Figure 2. Conventional drive means, not shown, for the rollers 37 is employed, so that the fabric base 36 will be fed transversely of the needles and presser bar in a step-by-step manner,

as is well known. The fabric base is advanced a step,

each time that the reciprocatory needle bar rises, and the fabric base is stationary when the needle bar 31 descends to pass the needles 32 with the yarn through the fabric base 36. If desired, the intermittent feed means for the fabric base 36 may be identical with the feed means for the fabric in US. Patent 2,411,267.

A looper rock shaft 39 extends horizontally through the intermediate frame section 22 and is suitably journaled thereon, Figure 2. The rock shaft 39 is spaced a considerable distance below the presser bar 33 and throat plate 35, and the rock shaft 39 is parallel with the presser bar 33 and needle bar 31, and extends for the entire length of the frame section 22. The longitudinal axis of the rock shaft 39 is preferably arranged almost directly below the row of needles 32, although as shown in Figure 3, the axis of the rock shaft 39 may be spaced slightly laterally of the row of needles. A desired number of cranks 40 are suitably rigidly secured to the rock shaft 39 to turn therewith, and these cranks are recessed at their tops to receive a horizontal longitudinal rigid looper bar 41, rigidly secured to the cranks 40 by any suitable means and extending parallel to the rock shaft 39 throughout substantially its entire length.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced upstanding loopers 42 are rigidly secured to the looper bar 41 in a conventional manner, and project above the same as shown in the drawings. The loopers 42 correspond in number to the needles 32, and the loopers have their open sides facing rearwardly or in an opposite direction to that in which the fabric base 36 travels transversely of the machine. The closed sides of the loopers 42 thus face the forward side of the machine or the direction in which the fabric base 36 travels. All of the loopers 42 and the looper bar 41 carrying them are adapted to reciprocate or rock with the rock shaft 39, in a well known manner, and in properly timed sequence with the rise and descent of the needle bar 31. Each needle 32 is adapted to pass close to one side of a looper 42 and to cross the bill 42 of the looper, so that this bill may enter the loops formed by the needle on the lower side of the fabric use. The loopers 42 oscillate with respect to the needles 32 and cross the paths of the vertically reciprocating needles and enter the loops in a manner well known in this art.

As best shown in Figure 8, the rock shaft 39 is provided near one end of the machine with a crank 43, rigidly secured thereto, and this crank 43 is adjustably pivotally secured at 44 to a generally vertical reciprocatory link 45, pivoted at 46 to an intermediate reciprocatory link or rod 47, having positive guided engagement within a bushing 48, rigidly secured within the frame head 23, near one end of the machine. The upper end of the reciprocatory link 47 is pivoted at 49 to a con necting rod 50, in turn connected with and operated by a. cam 51, which is rigidly secured to the main drive shaft 25, near one end of the same. By this arrangement, Figure 8. rotation of the drive shaft causes vertical reciprocation of the needle bar 31;. and laptoperly timed sequence causes rocking or oscillation looper rock shaft 39.

A separate horizontal longitudinal rock shaft 52 is journaled within the frame section 22, and spaced laterally forwardly of the rock shaft 39, and somewhat above the same, as shown. The rock shaft 52 extends throughout substantially the entire length of the machine. A plurality of inclined cutter holders 53 are provided upon the inner side of the rock shaft 52, and these holders have lateral extensions 54 rigidly secured thereto, and engaging within openings formed in the rock shaft 52, and rigidly secured therein by means of setscrews 55 or the like. Cutters or blades 56 are adjustably rigidly held within the holders 53, with their cutting edges 57 arranged uppermost. The cutters 56 correspond in number to the needles 32 and loopers 42, and the cutters have. their cutting edges 57 slidably contacting corresponding sides of the loopers in a well known or conventional manner. 1

As shown in Figure 8, the cutter rock shaft 52 has a crank 58 rigidly secured thereto near the crank 43 of rock shaft 39. The crank 58 is adjustably pivotally connected at 59 to a link 60, pivoted at 61 to a reciprocatory rod 62, having positively guided engagement within a bushing 63, fixedly secured to the head 23. The upper end of the reciprocatory rod 62 is pivotally connected at 64 with a connecting rod 65, which in turn is operated by a suitable cam 66, rigid upon the rnaindrive shaft 25. Thus, rotation of the main drive shaft will cause the cutter rock shaft 52 to oscillate in properly timed relation with the looper rock shaft 39, and in properly timed relation wtih the movement of the reciprocatory needle bar 31.

The operation of the rock shafts 39 and 52 is such, with respect to each other, and with respect to the vertically reciprocating needle bar 31, that the needles 32, loopers 42 and cutters 56 move relative to each other and are timed in the manner that the needles, loopers and cutters move and are timed in US. Patent 2,143,678. The relative movements of the needles 32, loopers 42 and cutters 56 may thus be identical with the movements of the corresponding elements in Patent No. 2,143,678 It may thus be seen that the elements of the machine thus far described are substantially conventional.

During the normal operation of the machine as thus far described, the fabric base 36 is advanced a step each time the needle bar 31 is elevated, and the fabric base is stationary when the needle bar descends to pass the needles 32 and the yarn through the fabric base for forming loops upon the lower side thereof. When the needles have descended to form the loops, Figures 3 and 9, the loopers 42 will swing to the left or counterclockwise in Figure 3 to enter successively the loops previous ly formed by the needles. The needles will again rise, and the loopers 42 will begin to shift to the right or clockwise in Figure 3, as will the cutters 56. At this time, the fabric has: 36 is advancing a step to the right, Figures 2 and 3, and the loops upon the looper bill 42' are drawn toward the closed side of the looper and toward the cutting edges 57, which cutting edges will sever the loops upon the looper, except for one loop which remains unsevered, Figure 10. This normal operation of the machine for forming severed loops or tufts is identical with the operation in Patent 2,143,678, as previously stated.

In the present invention, means are provided for coaction with the loopers 42 to remove all of the loops from a desired number of the loopers or from all of the loopers, prior to the severing of the loops by the cutters 56. This means which will presently be described does not render the cutters 56 inactive, but merely removes the loops in the unsevered position from the loopers, Figures 5 and 11, before the loops engage the cutters for the normal loopsevering operation.

The means for removing the unsevered loops from of the thereon in a well known manner.

selectedlooper's comprises aplurality of generally-horizontal elongated resilient blades or fingers 67, which like the cutters 56 may be for med from hack'saw blades or similar material. The fingers 67 correspondin numher to the needles, loopers and cutters, previously de scribed, andthe forward ends of the fingers 67 engage the sides of the loopers'42 remote from their sides engaged by the cutters 56, see Figures 3, 6 and 7. The fingers 67 are rockably mounted intermediate their ends upon adjustable setscrews 68 or the like, carried by a horizontal longitudinal rigid support bar 69, suitably rigidly secured to the intermediate frame section 22, near and forwardly of the rock shaft 52 and somewhat above the same, and near the elevation of the loopers, as shown. The support bar 69 is slotted at '70 to receive the r'ockable fingers 67, which fingers are adapted to pivot orrock in vertical planes about fulcrums formed by the setscrews 68. The fingers 67 are curved or bowed somewhat as shown in Figure 6, so that their forward portions are tensioned or resiliently urged into sliding contact with corresponding vertical faces of theloopers 42. The forward extremity of each finger 67 is bent or arranged to form a very short transverse extension 71 on the finger, which extension actually engages the adjacent vertical face of the looper and slides over the looper during relative movement between the finger and looper.

vEach finger 67 is connected near the inner side of the support bar 69 with a retractile coil spring 72, which spring is also secured at 73 to a suitable extension of the fixed bar 69. The springs 72 serveto hold the forward ends 71 of the fingers 67' in a lowered position relative to the loopers 42, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and in Figures 9 and 10. v

The opposite ends of the fingers 67. project generally horizontally just beyond the forward side of frame section 22, as shown. These ends of the fingers 67 are secured as "at 74 to vertical flexible elements 75 which extend downwardly adjacent the front side of frame section 22. Near the tops of the legs 21, Figure 2, the individual flexible elements 75 have their lower ends secured to floating connector blocks 76, and the flexible elements 75 correspond in number to the fingers 67 with which they are connected. six of the elements 75 are secured to each floating connector block 76. A single flexible element or cable 77 is secured to the bottom of each block 76, "and each flexible element 77 passes about a fixed guide bar 78, rigidly secured to the forward sides of frame legs 21. From the guide bar 78, each flexible element 77 extends horizontally forwardly, for connection at 79 with the upper end of a dobby jack 80.

The dobby jacks 30 constitute well known or conventiolal parts of conventional dobby heads 81, which I employ in conjunction with my tufting machine proper,

Figure 2, for controlling the operation of the unsevered loop removing-means or fingers 67.

In the embodiment shown, I may employ six conventional dobby heads 81, Figure 1, and each dobby head or unit 81 may have twenty-five of the jacks 80 mounted Each dobby jack 80 of each head 81 is connected as at 79 with one flexible element 77, and as previously stated, each element 77 is connected through a connector block 76 with six flexible elements 75 and six of the fingers 67. Thus, by employing six dobby heads 81, and the arrangement described above including the connector blocks 76, control means for all of the 900 fingers 67 is provided, but in the present embodiment, six of the fingers 67 are controlled together by one jack 80. Obviously, this arrangement may be varied by providing a greater number or 'a lesser number of the dobby heads 81', or by varying the number of the flexible elements 75 which are connected with the floating blocks 76'. It should be mentioned here also, thatwhile I have" shown and described In the present embodiment, v

6s .amultiple needle machinehavingaa: preferred 900. needles; this number may be varied as found desirable.

The dobby heads 81 are conventional, asstated,-an'd need not be shown or described in-greatdetail. Each dobby head 81 is preferably substantially identical with the construction shown in US. Patent 2,587,507. Each dobby head 81 is bodily mounted upon a suitable support 82 adjacent the forward side of the main frame 20, Figure 2, and each dobby head comprises the usual frame 83 having the rocker mechanism 84 mounted thereon for imparting back and forth motiontothe dobbyknives, not shown, in a Well known manner. The dobby knives are adapted to impart motion to the individual jacks so that these jacks will move between the positions shown for a pair of the jacks 80 in Figure 2.

For controlling the movement of the dobby jacks 80- by means of the rocker 84 and dobby knives, there is provided the usual pattern chain 85, which coacts in a conventional manner with sets of dobby fingers, not shown. The dobby fingers operate upper and lower latch arms, the positions of which will determine whenthe dobby knives will be effective for shifting the dobby jacks 80 upon their pivots, toward or from the two relative positions of the jacks in Figure 2. The pattern chain 85 carries the well known removable pins, the arrangement of which determines the pattern of the severed and unsevered loops in the fabric base 36. The construction and operation of each dobby head 81 may be identical with that of Patent 2,5 87,507, as stated.

The rockers 84 of each dobby head- 81 areoperated in unison by connecting links 86, having. corresponding ends pivotally secured at 87 to dependingextensions 88 of the rockers 84. The links 86 are caused to recipr'ocate by means of cranks 89, pivoted at-90 to the forward ends of the links 86. The cranks 90 are rigid with a horizontal longitudinal rotatable shaft 91, journaled in fixed bearings 92, rigidly mounted upon the base 82 and arranged forwardly of the dobby heads 81, Figures 1 and 2. As shown in the drawings, the shaft 91 extends for substantially the entire length of the machine, and one end of the shaft 91 is operatively connected with the main drive shaft 25 by suitable gearing 93, as shown. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft 2-5 will cause continuous rotation of the shaft 91, which shaft through its cranks 89 will operate the links 86 and the rockers 84, andassociat'ed elements of the conventional dobby heads'81. The pattern control mechanisms of the dobby heads including pattern chains 85 governs the actual adjustment or movement of the individual dobby jacks 80, in the usual manner.

As should now be obvious, whenever a given. one of the jacks 80 is in a position to the left or counter-clockwise, Figure 2, the group of fingers 67 connected with. it by the elements 75, 76 and 77, will have their looper engaging ends 71 held in lowered positions, Figures 3 and 4, by the springs 72. The needles 32, loopers 42 and cutters 56 for this group of fingers. 67 will now coact during the operation of themachine to produce severed loops or pile on the fabric base 36. Simultaneously, the groups of fingers 67 which are connected with any of the jacks 80 in the right hand position, Figure 2, will have their looper engaging ends 71 elevated, Figures 5 and 11, and these fingers 67 will function as shown diagrammatic'ally in Figure 11 to push or remove the unsevered loops from their associated loopers, before the severing action of the cutters 56 and loopers' 42 takes-place, as in Figure 10 when the fingers67 are lowered.

The positioning of the various dobby jacks 80 inv the units or dobby heads 81 depends upon the arrangement of the pins in the pattern chains 85, and the coaction of these pins with the dobby fingers which control latch arms and the engagement of the latch arms with the from the pattern chains 85 will enable the dobby fingers and associated mechanism to prevent the reciprocating dobby knives from moving the jacks 80, and such jacks as correspond to the removed pins of the pattern chain will remain to the left, Figure 2, and their associated fingers-67 will remain lowered, Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10. The corresponding needles 32 and the associated loopers and cutters will then produce severed loops or pile in rows on the fabric base 36. Simultaneously, the pins of the pattern chains 85 will actuate the dobby fingers and associated mechanism to cause other dobby jacks 80 in the dobby heads to move and be held to the right, Figure 2, and the corresponding fingers 67 will be elevated, Figures and 11. These fingers will effect the removal of the loops from the corresponding loopers 42 before such loops are severed, and accordingly, the machine will simultaneously produce a predetermined numher-of rows of unsevered loops or pile.

Obviously, the pattern of the pile in the finished work maybe greatly varied through the adding and removal ofpins from the pattern chains 85 in a well known manner. Certain of the needles 32 and associated elements may be caused to sew or form rows of severed loops, and subsequently by changing the position of the associated dobby jacks 80, the same needles and associated elements may be caused to sew or form unsevered loops in the same rows, and during the uninterrupted or continuous operation of the machine. Through the medium of the pattern changing mechanisms, including the chains 85 and their pins, the machine can be caused to produce various designs of pile upon the fabric base 36, as for example, diamond and checkerboard designs, wherein alternate rectangular areas of the pile are formed of severed loops, and unsevered loops.

While I have seen fit to utilize conventional dobby heads 81 for controlling the operation of the fingers 67, still it should be understood that other means may be employed for this purpose, such as cams, electronic controls, jacquard heads, or like pattern control means.

A summary of the operation of the machine is as follows:

Rotation of the main drive shaft 25 causes reciprocation of the needle bar 31 and oscillation of the rock shafts 39 and 52 in properly timed relation with each other and with the needle bar. Simultaneously, the fabric base 36 is fed step by step to the right, Figure 2, or toward the open sides of the loopers, Figure 2. The timing'of the needles, loopers and cutters with the fabric feed may be identical with the timing of these elements in Patent 2,143,678.

Simultaneously with the above, the shaft 91, common to the dobby heads 81 is driven through the gearing 93, and the dobby jacks 80 are adjusted as above described for controlling the positions of the loop removing fingers 67 in the desired combinations or patterns.

One finger 67 is associated with each needle 32, looper 42 and cutter 56, as previously described. The fingers 67 which have their forward ends 71 held downwardly at all times, do not interfere with the action of the needles, loopers and cutters for forming severed loops or pile upon the fabric base 36 in a generally conventional manner. The fingers or groups of fingers 67 which have their forward ends 71 elevated, Figures 5 and 11, as above described, are effective for removing the unsevered loops from the respective loopers 42 prior to the severing of these loops. Certain selected needles 32 and associated elements will thus simultaneously with the other needles form unsevered rows or areas of loops in the fabric base.

-It should be emphasized, that the fabric base 36 is moving to the right, Figures 2 to 5. The needles 32 and the oscillating loopers 42 are coacting in the usual manner to form loops on the lower side of the fabric base, and the bills 42 of the loopers enter and hold these loops. The continued movement of the fabric base -to the right,

Figures 2 "to 5, pulls the loops toward the closed sides of the loopers and toward engagement with the cutting edges 57 of the cutters in a conventional manner. The cutters will sever the loops upon the loopers 42, except for one loop on each looper, and produce rows of severed loops, in all cases where the fingers 67 are maintained lowered at their ends 71, Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10. At the same time, in the instances where the forward ends of the fingers 67 are held elevated, Figures 5 and 11, the continued movement or feeding of the fabric base 36 to the-right will pull the loops toward the closed sides of the loopers in the same manner as above described. However, as the loopers move to the right or clockwise, the leading ends 71 of the fingers which are elevated, will engage the loops and push them free or completely off of the loopers before they can be severed by the cutters 56. It should be bourne in mind that the cutters 56 bear'or rub against corresponding sides of the loopers, and the fingers 67 rub or bear against the opposite sides of-the loopers. Thus, the fingers 67 do not cause any interference with the normal operation of the tufting machine for producing severed loops or tufts.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described may be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts and various changes in the method steps may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit; of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus describedmy invention, I claimz 1. In a tufting machine, feed means for feeding a fabric base, a needle to penetrate the fabric base and form loops therein, means to reciprocate the needle, a reciprocatory looper to enter the loops in succession and facing in a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the fabric base, the feeding of the fabric moving the loops upon the looper toward its closed side, and means to engage the loops upon the looper and to remove the same from the looper by moving the loops from the free end of the looper.

2. In a tufting machine, feed means for feeding a fabric base, a needle to penetrate the fabric base and form loops therein, means to reciprocate the needle, a reciprocatory looper to enter the loops in succession and facing opposite to the direction of feed of the fabric base, means cooperating with the looper to sever certain loops thereon, and means to engage certain other loops upon the looper and to remove them from the looper.

3. A tufting machine comprising means to support a fabric base and advance the same step by step, a recipro catory needle to penetrate the fabric base and form loops thereon, a looper to enter the loops formed upon the fabric base and having an open side facing opposite to the direction of travel of the fabric base, a cutter to cooperate with the looper for severing certain loops upon the looper, and means separate from the looper and cutter for engaging certain other loops upon the looper for removing said certain other loops from the looper, whereby the fabric base may contain areas of severed loops and areas of unsevered loops.

4. A machine for tufting comprising a reciprocatory needle bar, means to support and feed a fabric base, a plurality of needles secured to the needle bar to form loops upon the fabric base, a plurality of reciprocatory loopers for coaction with the needles and entering the loops in succession formed by the needles, a plurality of cutters cooperating with said loopers for severing certain of the loops upon the loopers, means to operate the needle bar, loopers and cutters in timed sequence, a plurality of movable elements arranged to engage certain other loops upon the loopers for removing said certain other loops therefrom, and means to move said elements in a direction whereby they will engage said certain other loops upon the loopers and to move said elements in another: direction away from engagement with said certain' other loops upon the loopers.

5. A machine for tufting upon a fabric base comprising a reciprocatory needle bar, a plurality of needles secured to the needle bar for movement therewith, means to feed the fabric base transversely of the needle bar step by step when the needle bar and needles are raised, reciprocatory loopers for cooperationwith the needles and entering the loops in succession formed 'by the needles and facing in a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the fabric base, a plurality of movable cutters cooperating with the loopers for severing certain unsevered loops-upon the loopers, means to operate the needle bar, loopers and cutters in timed relation, a plurality of movable elements arranged near the loopers and adapted to engage certain other loops upon the loopers for removing them from the loopers, and means to shift said elements into engagement with said certain other loops upon the loopers so that said certain other loops will be held by the elements against further movement in the direction of feed of the fabric base and thereby allowing the loopers to move out of said certain other loops.

6. In a tufting machine, a reciprocatory needle bar, a plurality of needles carried by the needle bar, work feed means to advance a fabric base transversely of the needle bar in a step by step manner, a plurality of movable loopers arranged upon one side of the fabric base, a corresponding number of movable cutters cooperating with the loopers for severing certain loops upon the loopers, said cutters bearing against corresponding sides of the loopers and moving relative to the loopers, a corresponding number of fingers arranged upon the sides of the loopers remote from said cutters and adapted to engage certain other loops upon the loopers for removing said certain other loops when said fingers are in one adjusted position, means supporting said fingers for movement relative to the loopers, resilient means connected with the fingers to maintain them in positions free of engagement with said certain other loops upon the loopers, and movable means connected with said fingers to shift them in a direction causing the fingers to engage said certain other loops upon the loopers and to remove said certain other loops from the loopers during relative movement of the loopers and fingers.

7. A tufting machine comprising fabric feed means, a reciprocatory needle bar, a plurality of needles carried by the needle bar for passing yarn through the fabric to form loops thereon, loopers to coact with the needles and entering the loops formed by the needles, cutters to coact with the loopers for severing certain loops upon the loopers, pivoted elements including parts arranged adjacent corresponding sides of the loopers and adapted to be raised and lowered with respect to the loopers, said parts engaging certain other loops upon the loopers when raised and disengaging said certain other loops when lowered, and means connected with corresponding ends of said elements for rocking the elements upon their pivots and thereby raising or lowering said parts of the elements adjacent the loopers.

8. A tufting machine comprising fabric feeding means, a reciprocatory needle to penetrate the fabric and to pass yarn therethrough for forming loops upon the fabric, a movable looper to enter the loops formed by the needle, a cutter mounted for movement relative to the looper and cooperating with the looper to sever certain loops upon the looper when the looper moves in one direction, a finger arranged adjacent one side of the looper and adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the looper, a spring connected with said finger to maintain the same normally lowered with respect to the looper, and movable means connected with the finger to elevate the finger with respect to the looper, the arrangement being such that the finger when elevated will engage certain other loops upon the looper and push them from the looper when the lob 'er' moves reward the fin er; the finger remaining clear of'said certain other'loops when lowered with respect to the looper.

9. A tufting machine comprising fabric feeding means, a reciprocatory needle bar having a plurality of needles, a reciprocatory looper for cooperation with each needle and facing opposite to the direction of feed of the fabric and entering the loops formed by the needle, a movable cutter cooperating with each looper to sever the loops upon the looper when the looper moves in one direction relative to the cutter, a finger element arranged near one side of each looper and extending generally transversely of the looper and its associated cutter and having an end adapted to be raised and lowered with respect to the looper, means rockably supporting the finger elements between their ends, resilient means urging the first-named ends of the finger elements downwardly with respect to said loopers, movable means secured to the other ends of the finger elements for lowering such other ends and elevating the first-named ends, and pattern control means connected with said movable means and controlling the operation of the same, whereby said finger elements may have their first-named ends raised or lowered as desired with respect to said loopers.

10. A tufting machine comprising reciprocatory needle means to form loops in a fabric base, movable looper means to enter the loops formed by the needle means, cutter means to sever certain loops upon the looper means, means shiftable with respect to the looper means for engaging certain other loops upon the looper means and moving said certain other loops off of the looper means when the looper means moves in one direction with respect to said shiftable means, and changeable control means connected with the shiftable means for controlling the operation thereof, whereby the shiftable means may be caused to engage or disengage said certain other loops upon the looper means.

11. In a tufting machine, means to support and feed a fabric base, a reciprocatory needle bar including needles to form loops upon the fabric base, loopers to enter the loops in succession formed by said needles, means to sever certain loops upon the loopers, movable means to engage certain other loops upon the loopers and remove said certain other loops therefrom, and adjustable control means for the movable means and controlling the operation of the movable means, whereby the movable means can be positioned relative to the loopers so as to remove said certain other loops from the loopers or to allow the severing of certain loops upon the loopers, the machine thereby being capable of producing various patterns of severed and unsevered loops in the fabric base.

12. In a tufting machine, means for supporting and feeding a fabric base, a needle to penetrate the fabric base and form loops thereon, means to reciprocate the needle, a reciprocatory looper to enter the loops, means cooperating with the loper to sever certain loops thereon, a device movable into and out of engagement with certain other loops upon the looper and to remove said certain other loops from the looper when engaging said certain other loops, and means to operate said device.

13. A method of tufting comprising supporting a fabric base and feeding it in one direction, reciprocating a needle which carries yarn through the fabric base to form loops in succession upon the same side of the fabric base and moving the loops in the same direction with the fabric base by the movement of the fabric base, supporting a reciprocatory looper upon the same side of the fabric base with the loops and facing the looper in an opposite direction to the feed of the fabric base and the loops, moving the reciprocatory looper so that its free end enters the loops in succession and holding the loops upon the looper while the loops continue to move with the fabric base, severing selected loops in succession upon the looper when it is desired to produce severed loops, thenarranging and holding a stop element in the path ,of travel of other selected loops held upon the looper,

and moving the looper in the direction of travel of the fabric while the stop element is in the path of travel of the said other selected loops to thereby remove said other selected loops from the looper.

14-. A tufting machine comprising fabric feeding means, a reciprocatory needle bar arranged near the fabric feeding means, a plurality of needles carried by the needle bar, a plurality of reciprocatory loopers arranged near the needles and facing opposite to the direction of feed of the fabric feeding means and entering the loops formed by the needles, a plurality of cutters engaging corresponding sides of the loopers and severing certain loops upon the loopers when the loopers move in the direction of feed of the fabric feeding means, a plurality of bladelike fingers extending generally transversely of the loopers and engaging the sides of the loopers remote fromthe cutters and having their ends adapted to be raised and lowered, said ends when raised engaging certain other loops upon the loopers and pushing said certain other loops from the loopers when the loopers move in the direction of the feed of the fabric feeding means, and adjustable means connected with and controlling the raising and lowering of said ends of said fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

